San Juan Record Classifieds, Events, Businesses In Monticello, San Juan County, Utah

Mar 05, 2014 | 3538 views | 0 | 38 | |

The Monticello City Council discussed the allocation of $50,000 in increased tax revenue at the February 25 council meeting.

The 2013 annexation of property that includes the Pinto substation provided the City with approximately $50,000 more in revenue than was budgeted in the 2013-14 budget.

City Manager Greg Westfall said the funds need to be allocated and presented a priority list created by city department heads.

The Council approved budget amendments that allocates an additional $10,000 for the golf course, $15,000 for fencing at the city ball fields, $10,000 for an administrative vehicle, and $15,000 toward savings.

Mayor Tim Young said this increase in revenue brought about by the annexation will benefit the city for years to come.

In other matters, a public hearing was held to discuss the proposed annexation into the city of land on Clayhill Drive. The land is owned by Scott Frost, who serves on the council. Frost has lived in a house on the land for the past year, while retaining ownership of a home in city limits.

After the hearing, the annexation was approved. Frost abstained from the vote.

Mayor Young said the city has received several complaints about “at-large” dogs. Police Chief Kent Adair said city ordinance states that if a neighbor gives permission for a dog to be there, they can be on the property. Neighbors need to sign a complaint for police to take care of the dog.

Adair said the dog problem will never go away, but it is not as bad as it used to be.

Councilman George Rice said the Sheriff would allow the county dog catcher to catch dogs for a fee if the City will upgrade the dog pound facility. If city police are used, the sheriff would go 50/50 on materials for the dog pound. Chief Adair said he is not sure he is in favor of the agreements at this point, more negotiation and discussion is needed.

Chief Adair said the department realizes there is a problem, and they are working to improve the situation. He advised the public to call San Juan County dispatch with dog complaints.

A city resident said there are three dogs in his neighborhood that cause a lot of problems, but he added that signing a complaint against his neighbors is difficult and causes stress and hard feelings. He said whatever the ordinance is, he does not like to sign a complaint.

Chief Adair provided a copy of total incidents for 2013, which included 912 traffic citations.

Chief Adair said the department is concerned about the availability of marijuana with the new laws in Colorado. He said it has become more accessible and the department is seeing more youth using the drug.

Councilman Shakespeare said from a school administrator standpoint, the Monticello Police Department has done a great job and really helps the schools out.

Police Officer Cole Young was promoted to sergeant.

Superintendent Nathan Langston reports that John Files, the hydro-geologist who has been consulting with city engineers and staff, said the City would be wasting resources by drilling an additional well in town as it will tax the same aquifer water source as used by the existing well.

Files suggested drilling north of town, near the airport, and piping the water to the city.

Langston said the location near the airport has the most promising water supply, but it may exhaust the funding to pipe the water that far.

However, if a lot of water is found out there, Langston suggested that the Community Impact Board (CIB) may be willing to contribute more funding to pipe it.

Mayor Young suggested the Council follow the advice of Files. He said the City is better off to know what the options are and added that a well is needed at the airport anyway. If the water is not adequate, money will not be spent.

In future meetings, the council will address the ongoing problem with resident deer in the city.

The Council discussed a proposal to merge the proposed city community center with the proposed San Juan County senior center in Monticello. A floor plan and design layout was reviewed by the Council. A supplemental application will be submitted to the CIB for the building funding with an inter-local agreement.

It was reported that the City loan will not change from the originally budgeted $500,000 at 1.5 percent interest. With grants included, the total contributions from the City will be $1.3 million. San Juan County will ask for $1.6 million from the CIB.

City officials said that the partnership will enhance the building significantly.

City officials reported on a proposal that would help the community swim team. They had requested that the city open the pool earlier than planned to help the team better prepare.

Mayor Young said the owners of Inn at the Canyons have agreed to allow the swim team to practice in its pool if the City can provide liability insurance and the kids bring their own towels. A $500 payment was discussed and preliminarily agreed upon.

City resident Monte Wells addressed the council about the gun range that was built last year adjacent to the water treatment plant. The City did not secure the correct permits for the range from the Forest Service and it has subsequently been closed.

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